The Fuel LX is the biggest of Trek’s three new Fuel models. With 170mm travel front and rear and 29″ wheels, it’s clearly the burly and wild child in the Fuel family. It’s also a lot like the Slash, or, er, how the Slash used to be. That makes it an interesting bike in Trek’s line, so we were stoked to have half a year on the alloy Project One version of this new beast of a bike from Wisconsin.
As mentioned, the LX bike is one of three Fuels, all reasonably similar and all using the same frame. It’s also very close on paper to the Slash. With so many similarities, can the Fuel LX stand on its own? And why would you want this over the high-pivot hauler Slash? During our time with the Fuel LX, this alloy bruiser (there are carbon models, too) repeatedly proved deserves a spot in Trek’s line, as a standalone bike and as part of the Fuel platform. Here’s why
Fuel LX: The burliest Fuel we’ve ever seen
Where the Fuel EX is 145mm and 150mm, the Fuel LX is a full 170mm up front and 160mm rear. That puts it decidedly on the long-travel end of trail bikes and well into enduro bike territory. But, for a few reasons, which we’ll get into below, the Fuel LX feels more trail bike than enduro race weapon.
Interestingly, both run on the same frame. Switch out the rocker link (and some suspension parts) and this is the same frame as the Fuel EX. It’s part of Trek’s platform approach to the Fuel line. Using one frame for three Fuels comes with a couple quirks. It means the Fuel LX is slacker than the EX, but also has the shortest reach of the three Fuels. While Trek gives the frames size specific chainstays, those chainstays remain the same for all three models.
The alloy Fuel LX Trek sent us to test does also include a frame storage compartment. As far as storage compartments go, this is on the smaller side. The two bags Trek includes will fit a small repair kit and, if you fold carefully, a tube. But you’re not getting a baguette or even a sandwich in there. Even fitting a larger multitool was difficult. But, on the other hand, I do like the slimmer downtube this allows compared to the near-eMTB diameter tubes on some bikes these days.
All of Trek’s other changes to the Fuel frame are very welcome. The straight seat tubes, more stack height, more common headset standard and size specific chain stays are all welcome improvements.
Spec: Fuel LX 9 XO AXS
Our test bike is…
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